Illinois Republicans hope their national convention gives them a boost in some legislative races this November, but they are tamping down expectations about how well GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will do in Illinois.

Illinois Republicans hope their national convention gives them a boost in some legislative races this November, but they are tamping down expectations about how well GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will do in Illinois.

Two major Illinois prisons and other facilities will stay open for at least another month after an arbitrator ruled Gov. Pat Quinn's administration violated workers' rights in rushing to close them.Arbitrator Steven Bierig concluded Friday that the state departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice did not properly negotiate with workers over the impact of closing the supermax Tamms prison, the Dwight women's lockup and several juvenile facilities.